Ingot casting and compression machine.



L E. HOWARD.

INGOT CASTING AND COMPRESSION MAGHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 24, 1912.

Patented Mar. 18, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHBET 1.

WITNESSES:

INVENTOR Z24: a Mp1,

BY T

ATTORNEYJ L; E. HOWARD. 1 INGOT CASTING AND COMPRESSION MACHINE.

APPLIOATIOIT FILED MAY 24, 1912.

Patented Mar. 18, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

AnoRNEg-S.

,WITNEsSES:

L. E. HOWARD. INGOT CASTING AND COMPRESSION MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 24, 1912.

Patented Mar. 18, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

mp r ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES:

*"on'rrnn sra'rpgs arnn'r onrion.

LESLIE E. HOWARD. OF LOCKPOR-T, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO SIMONDS MANUFACTUR- ING COMPANY. OF FITCHBURG.

SETTS.

MASfiACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHU- INGOT CASTING AND COMPRESSION MACHINE.

Patented Mar. 18,191'3.

Application filefi May 24, 1912. Serial No. 699,410.

' useful Improvements in Ingot Casting and Compression Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to that class of ingot compression machine wherein lateral pressure is applied to the ingot during the cooling of the latter, for the purpose of preventing the formation of blow-holes and cavities in the ingot due to the separating out of gases from the steel comprising the ingot during the cooling of the same, and the formation of the defect known as piping, resulting from the shrinkage of the material after the sides and bottom of the ingot have set and hardened and while the center is still molten, which condition allows the molten material from the upper portion'of the ingot to feed down and partially replace that drawn toward the sides and bottom of the lower portion of the ingot, clue to shrinkage in cooling.

In my Patents NO. 922587 granted May 25, 1909, and No. 926489 granted June 29, 1905), I have described two forms of apparatus each consisting briefly of a hydraulic compressed in these same molds press of special design and; combined therewith, ingot molds so placed that lateral pressure is applied from the hydraulic rams of the press to one or more movable sides of the molds; and in each such apparatus the steel is pou 'ed from a' suitable container, such .as a ladle: directly into the molds contained within the press frame-work, and

without removing them from the press. In my patents above mentioned I have drawn attention to the desirability of continuing the pressing operation for some time after the ingots have become vsolid, so as to obtain a certain forging or kneading effect similar to'that obtained-in hammering and forging with. heavy hydraulic forging presses, both of which operations are well known in the art. I I have foundin the practical operation of my ingo compressing machines, as

i covered by my former patents above identified, thatit is desirable in certain classes of steel to divide the operations of casting and compressing. It is found that for certain classes of steel the material from which the mold is made is not a suitable material for compressing-dies, and, vice-versa, it is also found that a material which will stand up and be commercially practicable for the work of compression dies does notwork out well when'made into molds into which the molten steel is poured.

I am aware that attempts have been made in the past to take ingots from the molds in which they were poured before they were entirely solidified and give them subsequent operations, such as passing them through a air of live rolls, squeezing them in asocalled bulldozer, and other forms of apparatus of like nature; and in all of these forms of apparatus two defects fatal to the method were found. One isthatthe time elapsing from the stripping of the mold from the ingot to the commencing of the compressing operation or rolling operation is so great that, to use an expression common in the art, the ingot becomes air struck, resulting in a large number of airbells or minute blowholes some little distance under the surface or skin of the ingot, and these are not removed or cured by the subsequent operations on the' ingot. The second defect in these various forms of apparatus is that the compressing action, whether it be'in compressing molds, bulldozers, or squeezers of various sorts, occupies so short a space of time that, on the one hand, the ingot either shrinks considerably after the operation is finished or, on the other hand, is allowed to cool to a point previous to this compression action where the pipes and other defects of like nature arevery well defined and never can be wholly cured after once formed and metallic oxids allowed to cool on the surface of such cavities. I have further observed.

of the .die there is a marked tendency to spread o-rbulge the-ingot laterally in a direction at right-angles to the direction of 'the pressure, sometimes resulting in cracking the-ingot; and this is especially liable to happen where the joints of the die are located in the'walls which oppose such spreading or bulging tendency or such Walls also a top are not strongly supported against yielding. in my present invention 1 have aimed to overcome all these inherent defects and, in addition, to produce an apparatus that will be durable, easily operated, and will place .every operation under the absolute control and subject to the judgment of the operator; and especially one in which the forging operation, after the ingot has become solid, ma y be carried to any-extent desired. andbe limited only by the power delivered to the press.

In carrying out my invention, l proyide a hydraulic or other mechanically operatcd press equipped with one or more com pressing dies, and immediately above each such compressing die is arrai'iged a casting mold of a cross-sectional torm corresponding substantially with that of the underlying die, but preferably made in two or more separable longitudinal sections, the vertical axis of each mold being in substantial alinement with the vertical axis of the underlying compressing die; and in cooperation with said mold and die I provide means for lowering a freshly cast ingot, without shock or jar, directly from the mold into the die for subsequent compression or squeezing in. the latter. The preferred form of mold anddie which I employ is rectangular ,in crosssection, but so disposed that the joints are in a plane that bisects the crosssection diagonally, while the lineor direction of pressure is normal to such diagonal plane, for" reasons that will hereinafter more fully appear.

in the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one )ractical embodiment of my invention, in which- Figure l is a View in side elevation of the apparatus, showing the casting mold on one side closed and in readiness to receive the pour. Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1, but showing the casting mold in open or discharging position and the ingot lowering device in its lowermost position. Fig. 3 is a. top plan view of the apparatus. Fig. at is plan view, but with the casting molds and their actuating mechanism omitted to more clearly show the structure of the compressing dies. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail elevation, partlyin vertical section, of a portion of the mechanism for lowering the ingots from the molds into' the compressing dies. Fig. 6 is a similar view of the parts shown in Fig. 5 in a plane at right-angles to the plane of thelatter figure.

Referring to the drawings, 5 designates each of a pair of parallel side-frame mem- 6 an interlocking endframe member, and 7 a cylinder casting constituting the other end-frame member and formed with a pair of cylinder chambers 8 therein. The frame sections are strongly and rigidly united by interlocking joints 9 oblique to the through rescuer faces of which abut against a cross-head 13 supported on and between the side-- that is members 5 of the pres. frame by means of flanges 1-1 on the cross-head resting on the upper edges of the sidc-f'amc members 5. 'l he other face of the cross-head 13 in turn abuts against the back of a movable dieblock 15 that cooperates with a stationary die-block 16; both of said die-blocks being supported on and between the side-members 5 of the press-frame by lateral. flanges 17 and 18, respectively. The die-blocks l5 and 16 have formed in their opposite faces V- shaped recesses 19 and 20, respectively, that unitedly form the substantially rectangular cavities of the dies.

it will be observed by reference to Fig. that the formation of each die is such that the joints between the mating sections are in. a plane that bisects the crosssection diag nally, and that the line or direction of p sure is norma to such diagonal plane and two side Walls of the die cavity on either side of said diagonal plane. I. have found by repeated test that such a formation and arrangement of con'rpressing die entirely eliminates the described tendency of the ingot to spread or bulge laterally in the direction of the joints between the two die sections; measurements having shown that there is, rather, an opposite tendency, via, to slightly contract or condense the ingot in adirection transverse to the line or direction of pressure. This not only insures a more uniform and superior product, but eliminates the danger of cracking the ingot in any direction under the powerful condensing pressure to which it is subjected.

The die-men iber 15 is loosely connected to the cross-head so as to be retracted by the latter by means of hooks 21 on its upper end engaging a groove-like socket in the top of the cross-head. It is, of course, understood that the back of the die-member l6 abuts squarely against the inner face of the end wall 6 of the frame.

Fluid hausted from the cylinder chambers 8 a cored duct 2% in the casting 7 and a pipe 25 leading from a valve 26 through which latter the pipe is alternately connected with a high-pressure supply pipe Q'Zandan exhaust pipe 28. The cross-head 13 is retracted, in the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated, by

power mechanism comprising a cylinder 29' secured to the outer face of the end wall casting 7, a plunger 30 in said cylinder, a cross-head 31 on the outer end of said plunger, and pull-bars 32 connected at their outer ends to the ends of pressure is supplied to and BX- said cross-head I and at their inner ends formed with hooks engaging grooves 34 formed in the opposite sides of the cross-head 13. A branch pressure-fluid supply pipe 35 leads from the supply-pipe 27 to the inner end of cylinder 29, whereby the cross-head 13 is normally maintained fully retracted and the compressing dies open; the cross-section of the plunger 30 being so small relatively to the cross-sections of the rams 19 as to make it unnecessary and practically inexpedient to equip the cylinder 29 with fluid-pressure controlling valves.

Secured to the outer sides of frame members 5 and extending beyond the latter are a pair of horizontal bars 36 that form a track to locate, guide and support a superimposed mold -carrying and operating frame. This frame comprises two parallel side members 37, each having a pair of wheels at its lower end engagingthe track-rails 36, said side-frame members being tied together and held suitably spaced by tie-rods 39. Located near theuipper ends of these side frames are four pins or studs 40 (Fig. that engage transverse slots 41 in the upper ends of two pairs of suspended swing-bars 41, opposing swingbars of each pair being tied together by heavy cross-rods 42 which, in turn, support the two v\l-shaped halves 43 or a pair of molds. These swing-bars form the immedi ate mold-supporting and opening and clos ing agents, and they are connected for simultaneous actuation by a mechanism comprising, as herein shown, a pair of rockng levers 44 fast on. stub-shafts 45 jouraled in tlie side-frames 37, curved links 46 connecting the ends of said rocking levers to the swingbars, and a bail-shaped operating handle 47 the arms of which straddle the side-frames 3'7 and at their inner ends are fasten the shafts 45. The molds, of which there may be one, two (as shown), or more, are of the solid bottom type, except that the bottom of each mold is provided with a round tapered opening, onehalf of which, indicated at 48 in 'Fig. 2, is, of course, formed in the bottom of each of the mating half-sections of each mold. During the operation of pouring the molten steel into the molds, these holes are closed by tapered plugs 49 loosely mounted on the upper ends-of the plunger rods 50 of a pair of fluid-pressure cylinders 51. As will be seen by reference to the detail views, Figs. and 6, the cylinders 51 are rigidly connected at their upper ends to a combined cylinderhead5l, the ends of which latter carry horizontal trunnions 51", that are mounted in one end of a pair of approximately horizontal bars 52, the other end of said-bars being connected to a cross-head 53 fast. on the outer end of the rod 54 of a piston that operates in a cylinder 56 secured to the outer face of the end frame 7 below the cylinder 29. Fluid pressure is alternately admitted to and exhausted from opposite sides of the piston through pipes 57 and 58 and a two-way cock 59"cont-ro'1ling the communication of said pipes 57 and'58 with a low-pressure supply pipe 60 and exhaust pipe 61. The trunnions 51 are also journaled in the lower ends of a pair of swinging links 62 that are suspended from the side-frame members 5'; and fluid pressure is admitted to and exhausted from the cylinders 51 through a flexible pipe or hose 03, a coupling 63% and branch pipes 53 leading into the cylinders 51; the other end of hose 63 communicating alternately with supply and exhaust pipes GG'and 64, respectively, through a controlling cook 65. Stops (36 on the side-frames 5 limit the inward swing of the links 62 to a point at which the plugs 49 are substantially in axial alinement with the holes in the bottoms of the superposed molds. For guiding the plunger-stems 50 and plugs 49 during their upward movement into registration with the holes in the bottoms of the molds, I employ on each plunger-stem a collar 67, from opposite sides of which extend a pair of out-' wardly anddownwardly curved springarms 68, as best shown in Fig. 6, said arms slidably engaging the walls of the separated die-sections as the plungers rise, and both supporting the upper ends of said plungers and guiding the plugs into registration with the holes in the bottoms of the molds.

In the, operation of the apparatus, the high-pressure is, as stated, at all times on the cylinder 29 which holds the -crosshead 13 and the rams 12 (upon which at the commencementof the operation there is no pressure) to their extreme retracted position, leaving the compressing dies open. The superimposed molds are closed by depressing the handle 47, which operates the toggle. opening and clcsing gear, carrying the same slightly past the center into a locked position, as shown in Fig. 1. Low pressure is then admittedto the inner end of cylii'ider 56, which causes the cylinders 51 to take the position shown in Fig. 1 wherein .their vertical axes are in axial alinement with the vertical axes of the molds, and pressure is then admitted to these cylinders 51 thus causing the tapered plugs on the upper ends of the rams of said cylinders to rise, enter, and tightly close the bottoms of the molds, as shown in Fig. 1. The molten steel is then poured into the molds and, after a brief interval in which the sides andbottom of each. ingotsolidify, leaving the interiors of the ingots in a fluid state, the molds are opened by raising the operating handle 47, as shown in Fig. 2, which leaves the ingots supported only by the bottom closure plugs 49. After the molds are fully opened, the valve 65 is mold bottom closure "vrdcd at its bottom with a soft rubber shifted as to allow the fold pressure in cylimlers 51 to exhaust, which, in turn. allows the plungers of these cylinders and the ingots resting on the upper ends (plugs 1-9) of the plungers to gently but positively descend into the compressing dies. It should here be noted that the bottom closure plugs -9 not only act as supports for the ingot after the molds ar opened to allow the descent of the ingots into the cmnpressing dies, but they also actas locating pdints to keep the ingots in position vertically over the dies while the molds are being opened, and pre vent in a largemeasure or clinging to either half of the molds. As soon as the ingots are lowered. into position in. the compressing dies, fluid pressure is applied to the large high-pressure cylinder chambers 8, com iressing the ingots; there being such a preponderance of cross-seetional area, and consequently of pressure, in the cylinder chambers, as to overcome the resistance offered by the pull-back cylinder 2!) which serves to retract the cross-head and dies. Shortly after the pressure has been applied to the compressing dies (so that the ingots are held from droppingthrough the latter), the action of cylinder 56 is reversed, whereby the cylinders 51 are swung to one side ol:- the bottoms of the compressing dies, as shown by the dotted, line position of cylindcr 51 and its actuating mechanism in Fig. The compressing operation is con tinued until the ingot is quite cold, obtaining in a marked degree the forging action described in my earlier Patent No. 926,489,

above referred to. After the compressing action is completed the valve 26 1s shifted to exhaust the fluid pressure from the cylinder clnimbers 8; whereupon the constant pressure in the cylinder .29 causes the crosshead 13, the high-pressure rams 12, and the movable members of the compressing dies to be retracted, openin the dies and allowing the ingots to tall through into an underlying pit or other receptacle.

By locating the molds directly above the compressing dies, it is possible to transfer the ingot from the former into the latter with such expedition as to entirely obviate the disadvantages hereinabove referred to as accompanying prcvious cllorts along the line at the separate molding and compressing process. It should be noted, however, that the lowering of the molded ingot, into the compressing mold requires a gentle yet positive action, free from any jarring, since otherwise .t he action of lowering of the ingot would result in bursting the latter. For this purpose, the cylinder 51 carrying the plug is preferably prowhich arrests the ram Without any rubber cushion could,

cushion, indicated at 6'7, downward motion of the shock, altlmugh this rested positively vet the ingots sticking of course, be replaced with some form of pneumatic cushion,-the essential thing bcing that the downward motion shall be ar gently, to avoid danger 0t bursting the ingotthrough jar or shock on account of the very thin shell of solid steel and the relatively large volume of molten interior.

The object in mounting the trame structure carrying the mold or molds upon a track is to enable it to be run to one side of the press-frame to enable the die or dies to be readily removed and replaced, when required, as well as to enable the operator to more readily observe the behavior of the molten core or cores during the f0rg ing action, since the proper extent and duration of the pressure can be readily deter mined by a trained operator by observation of the metal in the upper end of the ingot or ingots during such forging action. This manner of mounting, however, is not essential;

It will be evident, of course, that the apparatus shown and described might be considerably modified in details, as by the substitution of other mechanical parts, either power-0perated or manually-operated, for effecting the operation of the apparatus and movable parts, Without involving any departure from the principle of the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereoit'. Hence, I do not limit the invention to the specific details of the apparatus shown and described except to the extent clearly indicated in specific claims.

I claim I 1. in an ingot casting and compressing machine, the combination with a compressible die, and means for applying lateral pres sure thereto, of a mold positioned above and insubstantial axial alinement With said die, and means for lowering a partially cooled ingot from said mold into said die.

2. In an ingot casting and compressing machine, the combination with a compressible die, and means for applying lateral pressure thereto, of a mold made in separable parts positioned above and in substantial axial alinement with said die, means for opening and closing said mold, and means for lowering a partially cooled ingot from said moldinto said die.

3. In an ingot casting and compressing machine, the combination with a compressible die, and means for applying lateral pr essure thereto, of a mold comprising a pair of mating longitudinal sections mounted above said die, means for separating and bringing together said mold sections, and means for lowering a partially cooled ingot from said mold into said die.

l. In an ingot casting and compressing machine, the combination With a compressible die and means for applying lateral pressuperposed sure thereto, ot a mold comprising a pair 0t mating longitudinal sections, pi otally supported near their upper ends above said die, means for swinging said sections toward and 'rom each other, and means for lowering a partially cooled ingot from said mold into said die.

In an ingot casting and compressing machine, the combination with a compressible die, and ineans for applying lateral'pressure thereto, of a track, a mold carrying I trame mounted on said track, a mold carrled by said frame and movable toward and from a position above ant in substantial axial. alinement with said die, and means tor lowering a partially cooled ingot from said mold into said die.

6. In an ingot casting and compressing machine, the combination with a compressible die, and means for applying lateral pres sure thereto, a mold made in laterally separable mating sections mounted above said die. means for moving said mold sections to gether and apart, and an ingot supporting; and lowering mechanism comprising a member extending through said die and into the bottom of said mold and engaging the bottom of the ingot, and means for efiecting the ascending and controlling the descending movement oi said member.

7; In an ingot casting and compressing machine, the combination with a compressible die, and means for applying lateral pres sure thereto, of a longitudinally divided mold formed with a hole in its bottom wall and pos iened above and in substantial axial alinement *ith said die, means for opening and closing said mold, a rod disposed in anal alinement with and movable through said die and carrying at its upper end a plug adapted to fill the hole in the bottom of said mold-during pouring and support the ingot when the mold is opened,

1 e z and means for enecting tne sa id ole die, and means for applying lateral pressure thereto, of a longitudinally divided mold formed with a hole in its bottom wall and positioned above and in substantial axial alincment'withvsaid die, means for opening and closing said mold, a rod dis posed in axial alinement with and movable through said die and. carrying at its upper end a plug adapted to fill the hole in the bottom of said mold during pouring and support the ingot when the mold is opened, means for effecting the ascending and con trolling the descending movement of said rod, and means on said rod adapted to engage the interior surface of said die to guide said. plug into engagement with said hole.

9. In an ingot casting and compressing machine,- the combination with a compressiole die and means for applying lateral pressure thereto, of a longitudinally divided mold formed with a hole in its bottom wall and positioned above and in axial alinement with said die, means for opening and closing said mold, a fluid-pressure cylinder and plungerrod beneath said die, a p ug on the upper end of said plunger-rod adapted to till the hole in the bottom of said mold during pouring and support the ingot when the mold is opened and means for supporting and shifting said cylinder, between an op erating position below and in axial alinement with said die and an idle position low and to one side of said die.

LE SLEE HGlli-Xltl).

\Vitnesses SAMUEL N, 'Poxn, E. Gr. lironnsoiin.

Gopics oft this patent may be detained for five cents each, by addressing the C0111 Washington, D. G. 

